AN apparently healthy Birmingham schoolgirl collapsed and died suddenly at her home, an inquest heard.

AN apparently healthy Birmingham schoolgirl collapsed and died suddenly at her home, an inquest heard.

The death of Sharondeep Kaur Aujla remained a mystery, a pathologist told Black Country Coroner Robin Balmain at West Bromwich.

Prof Helen Whitwell said she had been unable to establish a definite cause of death for the 14-year-old at the family home in Europa Avenue, West Bromwich, in December.

Sharondeep's mother Rashpal Aujla told the inquest she had gone shopping with her son, leaving her daughter, a pupil at Handsworth Wood Girls School, alone in the house.

But when she rang half an hour later she got no reply. Her brother, Nirmal Shergill, also of Europa Avenue, broke into the house and found Sharondeep collapsed.

Mr Shergill said he attempted mouth-to-mouth resuscitation and heart massage, but was unable to revive the youngster, who was dead on arrival at Sandwell General Hospital on December 10.

Prof Whitwell, who carried out a post mortem examination, told the inquest there was no evidence of injury or any relevant medical history.

There were a number of possibilities: Sharondeep may have choked on her own vomit, there was a possibility of a chest infection, or she may have had an undetected irregular heart rhythm.

She said Sharondeep probably died of natural causes, but it was impossible to say exactly what killed her.

Mr Balmain said the case was "very perplexing" and it was difficult to understand what caused Sharondeep to collapse and die so suddenly.

He said there was nothing suspicious about her death and recorded a verdict that she died from natural causes. It would be sensible for the family to be screened for possible heart problems, the coroner added.